U.S. News Webinar – June 29

Welcome to the June issue of the AALS Institutional Advancement Section Newsletter!

June Webinar on U.S. News – Next Week!

When it comes to U.S. News rankings, how do we message to students, alumni, academics, and other audiences? What are the biggest challenges – and creative solutions – you’ve encountered in communications and development in communicating about rank? Our June webinar, “Ranking, Reputation & Response: U.S. News,” will take on these questions with guest panelists from American University Washington College of Law, Fordham Law, and Texas A&M School of Law. We’ll also leave time for group discussion.

Tuesday, June 29, 2021 | 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT |  Register Here

Save the Date: Summer Social Discussion Hour

We’ll gather for a discussion and brainstorming session, “It’s Fall. We’re Back. What Now?” More details to come!

Wednesday, August 4 | 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT | Register Here

Survey Recap

Thanks to all who participated in our Institutional Advancement Survey! We’ll use this information to inform future programming and communications. We’re sharing a few highlights and key take-aways with you today.

• Number of Respondents: 59
  • 58% Development Professionals
  • 47% Alumni Relations Professionals
  • 46% Marketing/Communications Professionals
  • 14% Leadership/Administration
  • 5% Admissions Professionals
  • 5% Faculty
  • 3% Career Development Professionals
• Average Team Size (including all alumni/development/communications staff): 7.8
• What info would you like to find on the AALS website? (Top 5)
  • Recorded webinars
  • Upcoming annual meeting details
  • Upcoming networking events
  • Resource-based white papers/blog posts
  • Past annual meeting recordings
• Respondents indicated interest in webinars and digital discussions on a number of topics, including:
  • Faculty interaction & promotion (61%)
  • Effective social media (60%)
  • Reunion planning (58%)
  • Useful tools to improve communications/project management (54%)
  • Event planning (42%)
  • Additional comments included a request for events with a development focus, such as prospect research, solicitations, and capital campaign fundraising.

  Good Reads

  • The Outlook for Charitable Giving – The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
    The School of Philanthropy out of Indiana University examines recent studies to forecast an increase in giving for 2021.
  • The Coming Transformation of Higher Education – Inside Higher Ed
    Writer Arthur Levine describes “a seven-step process that reveals how far we need to go to ensure that academe keeps pace with the changes taking place in our society.”
  • Three Tactics for Getting Notice in a Post-COVID Landscape – PR News
    How to approach marketing and communications with empathy.

  Have a suggestion or recommendation for “Good Reads?” Share it with the discussion list, or send to Emily Cherry ([email protected]) for inclusion in an upcoming issue of the newsletter.

  Did You Know? 
  Did you know that the AALS YouTube channel contains playlists featuring videos from law schools? Email [email protected] to suggest videos from your school to be added to a playlist.

  Questions? Contact Us! 

  Feel free to reach out to your IA Section Officers:

  • Heather Foss, Co-Chair, University of Maryland King Carey School of Law
  • Victoria Grantham, Co-Chair, Fordham University School of Law
  • Brian Costello, Co-Chair Elect, LMU Loyola Law School
  • Emily Cherry, The University of Richmond School of Law
  • Elizabeth Field, The George Washington University Law School
  • Brooke Herndon, Vermont Law School
  • Mary Ann Soden, University of California, Irvine School of Law

  Access past issues under the “Newsletter” tab on the Institutional Advancement website.